Research was defined for the purposes of the UK Universities Research Assessment Exercise in 2001 as ‘original investigation undertaken in order to gain knowledge and understanding’. This article will examine how this translates in practical terms in general practice, what impact research has had on our clinical work as GPs and what opportunities exist for Associates-in-Training interested in engaging in research at different stages of their career.
HannafordP.C.KayC.R.The risk of serious illness among oral contraceptive users: evidence from the RCGP's oral contraceptive study. British Journal of General Practice (1998) 48: p. 1657–62. Available from: www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1313240&;blobtype=pdf [date last accessed 24.09.2009].
5.
MackenzieJ.The study of the pulse: arterial, venous and hepatic and of the movements of the heart (1902) New York: The Macmillan Co.
6.
MRC. General Practice Research Framework. Available from: www.gprf.mrc.ac.uk [date last accessed 14.10.2009].
7.
National Cancer Research Network. Available from: www.ncrn.org.uk [date last accessed 14.10.09].
PicklesW.H.Epidemiology in country practice (1939). The Devonshire Press. ISBN: 0-85084-097-X (reprinted by the Royal College of General Practitioners, London, in 1984).
11.
PillR.StottN.C.Concepts of illness causation and responsibility: some preliminary data from a sample of working class mothers. Social Science and Medicine (1982) 16: p. 43–52.
SchonD.The reflective practitioner: how professionals think in action (1983) New York: Basic Books ISBN: 1857423194.
16.
SimpsonH.E.Studies on shingles, is the virus ordinary chickenpox virus?Lancet (1954) p. 1299–302.
17.
SullivanF.M.SwanI.R.C.DonnanP.T.Early treatment with prednisolone or acyclovir in Bell's palsy. New England Journal of Medicine (2007) 357: p. 1598–607 Available from content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/357/16/1598.pdf [date last accessed 24.09.2009].
18.
HartJ. TudorThe inverse care law. Lancet (1971) 297: p. 405–12.
